Page 71 - High Knob Master Plan

SOUTHWEST REGIONAL RECREATION AUTHORITY HKRI INITIATIVES IN PROGRESS:
SRRA, or Spearhead Trails, has been working cooperatively with municipalities and USFS getting a jump start on a number of the HKRI Initiatives. These include:
1. SRRA has signed an agreement with USFS to assist with ongoing maintenance, including blazing trails, and maintaining trails on US Forest. Actions include winning a grant to reopen Cave Springs and improve Keokee Lake in partnership with USFS removed downed trees, improved the Stone Mountain Trail in parts, and worked on the Devils Fork and Chief Benge Trail. SRRA will be improving the road going to Devils Fork; and fixing issues on McGhee Creek.
2. SRRA is working on a grant for the Eastman Foundation to consider. Chief Benge trail lacks foot bridges for the many crossings.
3. SRRA pulled together a working group made up of jeep and dual sport bike enthusiasts, VDOT representatives, as well as representatives from Scott, Lee, Wise, and Norton and created six jeep/dual sport routes on VDOT and US Forest roads. These routes would also make great grinder trails for mountain bikes. They also connect several of the historical and cultural assets. This project brings together already existing assets into marketing routes for street legal SUV/Jeeps, dual sport bikes, and grinder type bicycles such as mountain bikes and e-bikes. Most of these routes have a portion in the High Knob area, but extend into Tennessee, Kentucky, and Russell and Washington Counties for short segments to round out the routes. The six routes they identified and are being better defined currently include the following:
1. The Waters Edge - The part of High Knob this trail includes is Clinchport and Copper Creek area with the remaining portions along the Clinch into Tennessee and back. Features four swinging bridges, several creeks, and examples of karst topography including limestone glades. Also features Kyles Ford in Tennessee, and see several old barns, schools, and churches, Daniel Boone Interpretive Center and Natural Tunnel.
2. Tomahawk Trail - This route features High Knob starting in Norton and traveling to Fort Blackmore and Dungannon and is entirely in the HK area. 3. Lovelady Trail - This includes mainly Lee County mostly in the service area as well as Cave Springs, Love Lady Gap, Keokee lake, and Klondike’s. Starts at the Daniel Boone Interpretive Cen. with stops in Pennington Gap. 4. Round the Clinch - Only a small portion is in High Knob area and features Bush Mille, Creation Kingdom, staring in Weber City and going along the Clinch River on several routes around Dungannon and Nickelsville area with a view of Mendota Tower overlooking the Clinch Mountain, several
scenic farms and the Clinch along with contributary creeks or springs.
5. Wilderness Road Trail - This route is mostly out of the HKRI are, connecting into remote areas of Lee County and features Wilderness State Park,
Cumberland Gap, and Hensley Settlement.
6. The High Knob Trail - Big Stone Gap is featured on this route and the
points of interest from Norton to St. Paul with loops into Pound area.
HIGH KNOB DESTINATION CENTER
In 2014, the High Knob Enhancement Corporation (HKEC) completed the reconstruction of the High Knob Tower. Since that time, a group of stakeholders, including members of the HKEC, officials from Wise County, Lee County, Scott County, the City of Norton, and other nonprofits and community organizations, have worked to develop a plan for the next steps needed to make High Knob a prominent outdoor recreation destination.
One of the key aspects of this plan is establishing Norton as a gateway to High Knob through the development of a destination center. The center will offer maps and exhibits that highlight the recreational opportunities and ecological wealth of the region (e.g. High Knob is a nationally known habitat for rare and diverse salamander species). The long-term plan for this center is to partner with the U.S. Forest Service in its operation. The Norton Industrial Development Authority is purchasing the land that will be used for the center and will work jointly with the City Manager to administer this project component.
HIGH KNOB REGIONAL INITIATIVE
CURRENT PROGRESS
1. Planning and Design is just beginning on the first phase of the new facility.
NEXT STEPS
1. Assist Norton to find additional funding sources, so that a more complete facility can be designed and constructed. This may include additional grants, or a fundraising campaign.
2. Work with design team to make sure the High Knob Destination Center contains content consistent with HKRI brand.
“Make your Worst Place your Best Place” Norton will repurpose this slab from a previous factory into outdoor exhibit space with the new High Knob Destination Center. Route 23 is visible beyond.
CHAPTER 8: CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS 71